WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has approved legislation that would increase spending on children’s health insurance and extend government-sponsored coverage to 4 million uninsured children.
The bill passed 66-32 and now goes back to the House, where a similar measure was approved two weeks ago.
Democratic lawmakers consider the expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program one of their top domestic priorities.
They have moved Read the rest of this entry »

WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation that would increase spending for children’s health care has lost support from some key Senate Republicans, but they acknowledged that they probably can’t do much to block the effort.
Sen. Charles Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said Democrats lost his support for the estimated $32 billion spending increase when they sought to extend coverage to children of legal immigrants and Read the rest of this entry »

The State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which is aimed at families earning too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private insurance, currently covers close to 7 million youngsters at a cost of $25 billion.
Lawmakers voted 66 to 32, largely along party lines, to renew the joint state-federal program and spend an additional $32.8 billion to expand coverage to 4 million more children. The expansion would be paid for Read the rest of this entry »

A day after he was charged with stabbing his companion in the face with a broken glass, State Senator-elect Hiram Monserrate said he was incapable of such a crime, and vowed to take his Senate seat come Jan. 1.
In a one-page statement issued Saturday evening, Mr. Monserrate said he deeply loved and cared for his companion, Karla Giraldo, and called her injuries an “unfortunate accident.”
“I have been charged with offenses that Read the rest of this entry »

to more than four million uninsured children, as a newly empowered Democratic majority brushed aside Republican objections.
The vote was 66 to 32, with nine Republicans joining Democrats to support the bill.
twice vetoed similar legislation. But
is eager to sign the bill as a step toward providing insurance for all children and eventually all Americans.
The Senate debate showed the outlines of what promises to be a much larger political fight Read the rest of this entry »

Sens. Tom Harkin and Charles Grassley are playing key parts in the effort to rewrite the nation’s health care laws, a top legislative priority for President-elect Barack Obama and the Democratic Congress.
The leading roles illustrate the clout that Iowa’s U.S. Senate duo has amassed as they begin their 25th year together.
“They are really one of the longest-lasting, most effective, split-party delegations and make for a pretty potent combination,” Read the rest of this entry »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Democratic-led U.S. Senate on Wednesday moved closer to approving an expansion of a popular children’s health care program after rejecting Republican efforts to pare down eligibility requirements.
Democrats want to give President Barack Obama an early victory on a campaign promise to provide health care coverage to more children and send to him legislation that mirrors bills twice vetoed by former President George W. Bush.
Read the rest of this entry »

Nov. 17, 2008 – 1:02 p.m.
to take office next year or for the 111th Congress to convene, Senate Democratic leaders this week are escalating discussions about an ambitious overhaul of the health care system.
, D-Mont., chairman of the Finance Committee, and
, D-Mass., who chairs the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, plan to meet Tuesday to discuss how to craft an overhaul that would fall under the jurisdiction of both committees. Read the rest of this entry »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle pledged on Thursday to aggressively pursue healthcare reform and restore confidence in federal health agencies as he made his case to become President-elect Barack Obama’s health secretary.
Obama has charged Daschle with a new, expanded role: to transform the U.S. health care system, which spends more per capita than any other developed nation but leaves many people without a Read the rest of this entry »

CANBERRA, Oct 13 (Reuters) – The Australian government on
Monday won backing from a key Senator for its plans to make it
easier for people to abandon private health insurance, in a
move set to upset listed private health insurers.
Key independent Senator Steve Fielding said he would now
support the government measure, which he voted against in
September and which failed to pass through parliament by only
one vote.
The government has re-introduced Read the rest of this entry »